Method for Producing Tooth Replacements and Auxiliary Dental Parts

Abstract

In a method for forming a dental part, a laser beam is guided over a powder layer of biocompatible material. The laser is guided by a computer controlled laser scanning system based on data representing the shape of the cross-section through the shaped body. The powder is substantially melted by the laser beam to form a layer in the shaped body, to build the shaped body entirely from layers of laser-melted material.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . A method of making a dental part, comprising:
 guiding a laser beam over a powder layer using a computer-controlled laser scanning system based on data representing the shape of a cross-section through the dental part, the powder comprising a biocompatible material of varying grain size of up to 50 μm to create a layer in the dental part;   sintering the powder with the laser beam; and   repeating the guiding and sintering over successive powder layers using successive cross-sectional representative data so as to build the dental part entirely from layers of laser-sintered material, the powder layers having a grain size distribution that forms layers of laser-sintered material of sufficient density for use as a dental part.   
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein each layer of laser-sintered material throughout the dental part maintains the shape of its respective cross-section through the dental part. 
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the powder comprises an alloy with essentially equal proportions of alloy components in each grain of the powder. 
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the biocompatible material is a metal alloy. 
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the biocompatible material is Ni61.4% by weight, Cr22.9% by weight, Mo8.8% by weight, Nb3.9% by weight, Mn0.4% by weight, and Ti0.1% by weight.